feature-workflow

Feature Implementation Workflow

Quick Reference

/feature-todo:implement [name]           # Full workflow
/feature-todo:implement [name] --project=X  # Custom project
/feature-todo:stage [1-12] [name]        # Single stage
/feature-todo:checklist [stage]          # View checklist

Serena MCP Commands

// ALWAYS activate first
mcp__serena__activate_project('root')  // or custom project name

// Core commands
mcp__serena__get_project_overview()    // Project structure
mcp__serena__find_symbol('name')       // Find class/function
mcp__serena__search_code('query')      // Semantic search
mcp__serena__get_type_hierarchy('X')   // Find base classes
mcp__serena__find_references('symbol') // Find usages
mcp__serena__get_file_tree()           // File structure

Anti-Duplication Protocol

BEFORE creating ANY new file:

// 1. Search for existing
mcp__serena__find_symbol('NameYouWantToCreate')
mcp__serena__search_code('what you are building')

// 2. Find base classes
mcp__serena__get_type_hierarchy('PotentialBase')

// 3. Decision
// - If similar exists → EXTEND it
// - If nothing similar → CREATE (follow existing patterns)

The 12 Stages

Stage 1: Planning & Discovery

Goal: Map codebase, create todos

Invoke:

• /task-router [feature]
• Task subagent_type="Explore"

Serena:

get_project_overview()
get_file_tree()
search_code("similar features")

Output: 12 TodoWrite items, documented patterns

---

Stage 2: Architecture & Design

Goal: Design aligned with existing patterns

Invoke:

• Task subagent_type="architecture-strategist"
• Task subagent_type="database-architect"

Serena:

search_code("architecture patterns")
get_type_hierarchy("BaseService")

Output: Data models, API contracts

---

Stage 3: Research & Context

Goal: Deep codebase understanding

Invoke:

• Task subagent_type="pattern-recognition-specialist"
• Task subagent_type="Explore" thoroughness="deep"

Serena:

find_symbol("Service")
find_references("ExistingCode")

Output: Reusable code list, extend vs create decisions

---

Stage 4: Development Setup

Goal: Prepare environment

Actions:

git checkout -b feature/[name]
npm install [dependencies]

Output: Feature branch, migrations

---

Stage 5: Implementation

Goal: Build WITHOUT duplication

⚠️ CRITICAL: Before EVERY new file:

find_symbol("NameToCreate")
search_code("description")
get_type_hierarchy("BaseClass")

Invoke:

• Task subagent_type="backend-architect"
• Task subagent_type="frontend-developer"

Output: Working code extending existing patterns

---

Stage 6: Testing

Goal: >80% coverage

Invoke:

• Task subagent_type="test-automator"
• Task subagent_type="security-sentinel"

Serena:

search_code("test helper")
find_symbol("fixture")

Output: All tests passing

---

Stage 7: Code Review

Goal: Quality verification

Invoke:

• Task subagent_type="code-reviewer"
• Task subagent_type="code-simplicity-reviewer"

Verify: No duplicates created

Output: Clean, reviewed code

---

Stage 8: Documentation

Goal: Complete docs

Invoke:

• Task subagent_type="docs-architect"

Output: JSDoc, README, CLAUDE.md updated

---

Stage 9: Deployment Preparation

Goal: Ready for deploy

Invoke:

• Task subagent_type="deployment-engineer"

Output: Docker, CI/CD, monitoring configured

---

Stage 10: Pre-Deployment

Goal: Final verification

Invoke:

• Task subagent_type="deployment-verification-agent"

Output: Staging verified, rollback tested

---

Stage 11: Deployment

Goal: Production release

Actions:

• Execute deployment
• Verify health checks
• Monitor error rates

Output: Production live

---

Stage 12: Post-Deployment

Goal: Monitor and document

Invoke:

• Task subagent_type="observability-engineer"

Output: 24h monitoring, retrospective, changelog

---

Fallbacks

If Serena unavailable:

• Use Grep for text search
• Use Glob for file patterns
• Note in TodoWrite: serena-unavailable

If plugin/agent unavailable:

• Skip invocation
• Document in TodoWrite
• Continue with manual approach

Completion

Feature complete when:

1. All 12 stages marked done in TodoWrite
2. No duplicates created (Serena verified)
3. All tests passing
4. Docs updated

For Ralph loop output:

<promise>FEATURE_COMPLETE</promise>